Christian Services for Children in Alabama

Christian Services for Children in Alabama strives to be an organization that has a positive, recognizable, long-term impact on ALL children and youth in our care by providing professional, cost-effective, and timely services.

Christian Services for Children in Alabama is a pioneer for the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) of Alabama/Northwest Florida in promoting ministries that nurture, restore and reclaim those children who have experienced various types of abuse and neglect. We provide opportunities for families and individuals (who wish) to share their love, time, and resources to nurture vulnerable children and youth toward independence and enriched lives.

Lige’ Richardson-Shears received her bachelor’s degree from Miles College and furthered her education at Alabama A&M University, where she obtained a master's degree in social work. Mrs. Shears has more than 10 years of experience in the human services field. She is currently our FOCUS program supervisor, where she provides supervisory and administrative oversight to family specialists. She works in a collaborative manner to build partnering relationships with community agencies and the Alabama Department of Human Resources. Mrs. Shears ensures culturally competent services to families, including clinical assessments and interventions. She is passionate about building family relationships and empowering individuals for positive change.

Mrs. Shears has lived abroad in Korea and Germany. She loves linking individuals and motivating them to fulfill their life dreams. When she isn’t working, she loves spending time with her family, drinking coffee, creating visionary boards, reading fashion blogs, and traveling. Mrs. Shears and her husband, Will, reside in Prattville, AL. She has a 12-year-old son.

Edith Obeng

Edith Obeng is a graduate of the University of Windsor, Canada, and has a master's in social work and bachelor's in social work, with a minor in sociology and psychology. She was born in Ghana, West Africa, and lived in Germany for most of her life, until moving to Canada in 2006. Raised by her mother and stepfather, who is a minister in Germany, Ms. Obeng always had a passion for social service and change, as well as community support. Besides serving in the children’s ministry at church, she also worked with the local Immigration Council in Düsseldorf, Germany, from 2003-07. In early 2006, at age 21, she was voted as council member representing the Regional African Community in Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany. Ms. Obeng has experience working with diverse populations in Germany, Canada, and Ghana; ranging from mental health, child welfare, immigration services, HIV/AIDS prevention, and homelessness. Within that scope, she functioned as program developer and coordinator, supervisor, mental health counselor, and client advocate, to mention a few. Ms. Obeng is fluent in English, German, Akan, and other Ghanaian languages; and has functioned as interpreter and translator in various capacities in Germany, and while working with Citizenship and Immigration Canada.

In her spare time, Ms. Obeng enjoys cooking for others, painting, reading autobiographies, singing, and volunteering in the community. She also has great passion for exploring European and American architecture and arts. Throughout her career, Ms. Obeng has worked with children and youth in a micro or mezzo level, including the child welfare system. Her vision in her work is to collaborate with community partners and government, but also to engage the child or youth in the process. She believes this collaboration is essential to providing all children and youth with tools for independence, laying a foundation for success, and making a long-term impact to becoming contributing members in their communities.

Contact Info

Gerri Johnson

August 10, 2018

Ministry can be lonely sometimes. As a peer group convener, my greatest joy is bringing people together so they know they are not alone, sharing in their joys and challenges, and watching new relationships form that reflect the very presence of God among us.